General News.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XII, Issue 827, 6 February 1868, Page 3

General News.

Japanese news tells of Sir H. Parkes vigourously pursuing the murderers of our seamen ; but, although ably seconded by native authorities, without success. The Cape is afflicted with [malignant typhus fever, 500 cases constantly under treatment in Cape Town, and 50 deaths weekly. The Basuto war still active. Lord Monk has opened the Maiden Parliament of the New Dominion of Canada, in which his lordship, despite a very hostile voice from Nova Scotia, prognosticates a glorious career to the Great Confederation. China rouses to the emergency of threatened famine in many populous districts : but the Nieu-fei rebellion is still the great Chinese puzzle ; nor Emperor nor mighty Manderin can master it. The recent typhoon at Hong Kong was very destructive. Brazil and Paraguay were at hard fighting when the last mail left : Lopez had proposed negotiations without interrupting hostilities. Cholera was in every camp. The Argentines incline to a modification of the war policy and opposition to the Triple alliance. Peru and Porto Rico severally announce domestic troubles. Calcutta reports a cyclone, Ist November, attended with great loss of life and property. Cabul sends details of the great battle fought September 21st, at Kotull—a fight for the throne between two sons of the late Dost Mohammed, named Shere Ali Khan and Afzul Khan : Shere Ali was defeated, and Afzul keeps the crown ; but the conqueror is said to be on his death-bed, so we may. expect to hear of more contention. Mexico has passed through the Presidential contest, the selection having been narrowed to the choice of Benito Jaurez or Perfirio Diaz—Jaurez gains the day, and great things are promised : at j resent they are rather anarchial, ruin and desolation become familiar : banditti roam unchecked : people of all nations but too happy to escape with whole skins. The President claims credit for the best .intentions of all mankind, and truly he has wide scope for energetic philanthropliy—his term, how'ever, may be of the shortest, a strong Opposition having already threatened impeachment and deposition. Poor Maximilian’s bodjr is now reported to have been given up to the Austrian Admiral, and to be on its way to Europe for Christian burial. Empress Charlotte shews faint signs of improvement. —Correspondent Daily Times. On November 29th, the Greek war-stea-mer Bubulina (formerly the famous Confederate blockade runner Colonel Lamb) was at anchor opposite New Ferry, on the Cheshire side of the Mersey, peparatory to leaving for. Greece. Captain Sartorius, the officer in command, gave orders that steam should be got up at six o’clock, as it was his intention to sail from the Mersey a few hours later. The furnaces were accordingly lighted, and steam rapidly got up, when, about half-past six, a terrific explosion took place amidships, and was followed by two others. The vessel was snapped asunder,

*he stern part forced about 200 feet from the forward bulkheads and water-tight compartments, where the magazine was situated. About sixty feet of the fore part of the vessel was kept afloat, and-at high water there was only the foremast and four or five feet of the fore funnel above water. A large number of the crew were below at the time, and eighteen seamen and thirty-two firemen are missing. The Bubulina had on board about 350 tons of Powell’s Duffryn steam coal, a large' quantity of provisions, and a quantity of Whitworth guns, gu*l- - and other warlike materiel. Great differences exist as to the causes of the explosion, but the general opinion of experienced surveyors inclines to spontaneous combustion in the coals as the real cause of the disasters. —Home News.